Tornado leaves 33 injured in Inner Mongolia

A tornado swept a village in Baotou city, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Sunday afternoon, leaving 33 people hurt and more than 100 yurts collapsed or damaged, according to local authorities.

The tornado hit the Khukhders village of Sharmurun town around 3:30 pm, and initial figures showed that at least five households of herdsmen and the Swan Lake tourist service center were severely affected.

Rescue effort was launched immediately, with the establishment of a task force consisting of public security and health departments to relocate people.

The 33 injured people, who were tourists and staff members of the Swan Lake, were sent to hospitals nearby for treatment, the authorities said, adding that three critically injured people were transferred to a hospital in Hohhot and their vital signs were stable.